SANTA CLARLA — Unable to keep the man, the San Francisco 49ers kept his system, and quarterback Alex Smith said Monday that will enable him to survive the loss of Norv Turner as offensive coordinator.

In fact, Smith said, in addressing Turner’s departure for the first time, he expects to thrive.

“I look forward to year two in an offense. It’s been awhile since I have had that opportunity,” said Smith, who has played in three systems the last three years dating to his final college season.

“That’s how you get to be a successful offense and win divisions and win championships. The Indianapolis Colts are the epitome of that. You look at their offense and they’ve been together for nine years.”

Smith, 22, said the promotion of Jim Hostler to offensive coordinator will ease the loss of Turner, who left last month after one season to become head coach in San Diego.

Smith and Hostler, the former quarterbacks coach, have been together the pasttwo years. They worked closely to learn Turner’s system after Mike McCarthy, the offensive coordinator in 2005, left after Smith’s rookie season to become Green Bay’s head coach.

“We speak the same language,” Smith said of Hostler.

Smith made tremendous strides in his one season with Turner, throwing 16 touchdown passes and compiling a 74.8 passer rating. As a rookie, he had one touchdown pass and a 40.8 passer rating.

But Smith said he believes he can build on that success without Turner, and he isn’t the only person who thinks so. Turner told him the same thing, Smith said.

“He took note that the system wasn’t going to change, and his thought to me was I didn’t need him anymore,” Smith said. “I did take a lot from the year I had with him, and I think it will help me throughout my career. And just because he’s not here this year, I think his influence will still be here.”

Smith said there will be changes in the playbook as Hostler puts his stamp on the offense, but some would have happened anyway.

“Even if Norv had stayed, we were going to do some things differently,” Smith said. “You can put in some new wrinkles, move guys around. There’s lots of things you can do with Vernon Davis. That’s going to be explored, obviously. We’re going to give defenses something more to worry about.”

Smith added that he’s looking forward to working with recently signed wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who was among five major signings in the first week of free agency.

“I think this team is excited,” Smith said. “To see the organization step up and make some moves, that feels good. It makes you feel you’re part of something here.”

He had little to say about the March 1 release of Antonio Bryant, his leading receiver last season with 733 yards. Smith said he hadn’t seen Bryant since shortly after the season ended.

“He and I got along,” Smith said. “I just wish him the best. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”

LINEBACKER SIGNED: Free agent linebacker Colby Bockwoldt was signed Monday by the 49ers, shoring up team depth and adding a quality player for special teams. Bockwoldt spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, who didn’t tender him a contract even though he led them with 20 special teams tackles.

Bockwoldt, 25, spent his first two years with New Orleans, where he was coached on special teams by Al Everest, who now holds a similar job with the 49ers.

OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT HIRED: Mark Nori was hired by the 49ers as an offensive assistant for the offensive line. He joined the 49ers staff after three years as the tight end and tackles coach for the University of Akron. He spent the 2003 season at Maine as the offensive line coach.

NOLAN WANTS CHANGE: Nolan has proposed a change in the pass interference rule that would allow officials more flexibility in determining whether the penalty should be 15 yards or automatically go to the spot of the foul.

The proposal was discussed during a competition committee meeting in Florida recently, according to ESPN.com.